On Friday, September 18, coming off a loss to South Warren High School, the Gibson Southern Titans defeated the Southridge Raiders 38-10.
Both teams started slow offensively, and it seemed like it was going to be a defensive standoff. With 3:36 left in the first quarter, senior running back Michael Herren rushed into the endzone for a five-yard touchdown. This gave the Titans a 7-0 advantage as the first quarter came to a close.
“It is always a relief whenever they (Titans’ offense) can put up some points, especially coming off our (defensive) stops,” said Titan senior and defensive captain Mason Scheller.
Southridge scored their first points early in the second quarter when sophomore kicker Bryan Cruz converted on a 27-yard field goal. The Titans responded and forced Southridge to call their first timeout with 9:16 left in the second quarter. On the first play following the timeout, senior quarterback Tanner Boyd rolled out of the pocket and scrambled for 50 yards, bringing the Titans down inside the Raider’s 19-yard line. A costly personal foul caused the Titans to take the 2nd and goal snap at the 21-yard line. With two failed attempts to get in the endzone, the Titans settled with a 27-yard field goal from junior kicker Cam Novotny.
The Raiders did not give up and immediately responded on first down with a 63-yard rush from sophomore running back Zach Russell. The drive capped off with junior running back Noah Wright rushing into the back of the endzone. This tied the score at 10 with 6:47 left in the second quarter.
The Titan offense stayed strong and mounted a drive themselves. With multiple first downs, they found themselves just a few yards away from the endzone. Then, with 3:28 left in the half, Boyd kept the ball and found his way into the endzone on a quarterback sneak. This gave the Titans a 17-10 lead and were the last points scored in the first half.
The Titans started the second half with ball possession, but they did not have it for long. With just 48 seconds into the half, Herren fumbled and gave the ball to the Raiders. They were not able to capitalize on the turnover, and the Titan defense stayed strong and forced a punt.
“It’s nice knowing even after you’re tired and worn out, that my teammates and I will work as a team in the second half and have a better start,” junior linebacker Beau Rose said.
Coming off a stop from the defense, the Titans were able to create the first scoring drive of the second half. With 1:58 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, senior running back Sean Delong scored a 19-yard rushing touchdown to give the Titans a two-possession lead.
The Titans defense kept bringing it to the Raiders offense in the fourth quarter, and an interception from Scheller set up another touchdown scored by sophomore Gunner Alexander, making the score 31-10 in favor of the Titans. With time winding down in the fourth quarter, DeLong scored another rushing touchdown, and that was all she wrote. Gibson Southern took the win, 38-10.
“We have improved greatly from week one,” Titans’ head coach Nick Hart said. ”We will need to keep that rise and not be satisfied with where we are.”
The Titans next game is Sept. 22, against the Heritage Hills Patriots, which is also the Fall Homecoming for the school. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. on the Jewell.
